ISC GEOGRAPHY PREVIOUS YEARS QUESTION.

CHAPTER- AGRICULTURE 

PART 1 2019,2018

Question 1.

(a) Briefly explain any two adverse effects of small and fragmented holdings on agricultural productivity [2]

ANSWER: (a) Effects of small fragmented holdings on agricultural productivity are :

1. Low agricultural productivity and the backward state of our agriculture is due to the large amount of time and labor lost in moving seeds, manure and cattle from one piece of land to another.

2. Irrigation becomes difficult on such small and fragmented fields.

3. A lot of fertile agricultural land is wasted in providing boundaries. The farmer cannot concentrate on improvements.

(b) State two ways in which forest area in our country can be increased.

ANSWER: Forest area can be increased by :

1. Massive trees plantations.

2. Vigorous restrictions on the reckless felling of trees.

3. Much of the area reclaimed from the forest for agriculture should be retired from cultivation and brought back under forest.

(c) Mention three constraints explaining why cultivable waste land is not being used for cultivation at present. [3]

ANSWER: The constraints are :

1. Due to human neglect large tracts of land of U.P., Punjab and Haryana turned infertile due to salinity or alkalinity of soil.

2. Due to extensive soil erosion or water logging or lack of water, agricultural land of the past had to be abandoned.

3. Due to unfavorable physiographic position or deficiencies in the soil resulting from faulty agricultural practices, large tracts of land now, can not be used for agriculture.

(d) In which two ways are tube-wells better than ordinary wells as a form of irrigation ? [2]

ANSWER: Tube Well

1. It generally irrigates 2 hectares of land per day.

2. Tube-wells can bring up water or irrigate land quickly with the help of machines

Ordinary Well

1. It irrigates 0 – 2 hectares of land per day.

2. Wells take longer to irrigate the same area.

(e) With reference to canal irrigation, name one canal in each of the following states [1]

(i) Uttar Pradesh

(II) Punjab 

ANSWER: (i) Uttar Pradesh-Upper Ganga Canal.

(ii) Punjab – Bhakra Canal.

(f) What is crop rotation ?

ANSWER: The growing of different varieties of crops in succession on a piece of land to avoid ‘exhausting the soil and to control weeds, pests & diseases is called crop rotation.

 

(g)  Mention two reasons why crop rotation is necessary in India.

ANSWER: Crop rotation is necessary in India as :

1. It helps make the soil more fertile, as legumes such as beans and groundnuts fix nitrogen in the soil.

2. It helps to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers as nitrogen is fixed naturally in the soil.

3. It helps to control weeds, diseases and pests by breaking their life cycles.

4. It reduces the risk of crop failure in case of drought or diseases.

2018

Question 5.

(a) Mention any two drawbacks of land use patterns in India. Suggest any one measure to improve it. [3]

ANSWER: Answer:

(a) The two drawbacks of land use pattern in India are :

1. Division of agricultural land into small and fragmented holdings. It is a serious problem in densely populated and intensively cultivated states of Kerala, West Bengal, Bihar and Eastern Uttar Pradesh.

2. Cultural Waste : The land was used in the past for agriculture, but has been abandoned for reasons like lack of water, salinity or alkalinity of soil, soil erosion, water logging, etc.

Measures to improve it :

1. Consolidation of holding of land. Reallocation of holdings which are fragmented.

2. Cooperative farming

3. .Cultivable wasteland can be brought under cultivation by reclaiming the land. In the interest of long-term conservation and maintenance of Eco balance, this land should be put under afforestation and not under crop farming.

 

(b) (i) What is fallow land ? [1]

ANSWER: (i) Land which was used for cultivation but is temporarily out of cultivation.

 

(ii) Suggest two farming practices which will help to reduce the extent of fallow land ?

ANSWER: Farming practices which will help to reduce the effect of fallow land :

1. Crop rotation.

2. Crop combination.

3. Proper irrigation facilities.

4. Proper dose of fertilizers.

(c) Mention two reasons why the modern methods of irrigation are preferred over traditional methods of irrigation, in India. [2]

ANSWER: Wells, tanks and inundation canals are called primitive methods of irrigation which are inefficient, uneconomical and inconvenient. Only a limited area can be irrigated while a tubewell is capable of irrigating about ten times more the area as compared to an ordinary well. Perennial canal is much better than inundation canals because it can irrigate larger areas and provides regular irrigation throughout the year. 

(d) State two dangers of overwatering. [2]

ANSWER: Overwatering leads to serious problems of soil salinity and alkalinity.

1. With intensification of canal irrigation, the water table rises sufficiently and once the water table is within 2 meters, it is likely to act as a continuous source of soluble salts in the soil profile.

2. Overwatering has brought about devastation in large tracts of land. The sandy soils become alkaline and the loamy soils become saline-alkaline.

(e) Briefly explain any two problems caused by the Green Revolution with respect to Indian agriculture.

ANSWER: Two problems of Green Revolution are :

1. Inter-crop Imbalances : Though all the crops like wheat, rice, jowar, bajra and maize have gained from the Green Revolution, it is wheat which has benefited the most. The HYV seeds for pulses and oilseeds have not been developed so far at all. The result is an excess of production in two main food grains-wheat and rice and shortages in most others like oilseeds and pulses.

2. Regional Disparities : Green Revolution affected only those areas which were already better placed from an agricultural point of view like Western U.P., Punjab and Haryana in the north and Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh in the south. It has hardly touched Eastern India, Assam, Bihar, West Bengal and Odisha.

 

Question 6.

(a) (i) What is the intensity of cropping ? [2]

ANSWER: “Intensity of cropping” refers to the number of crops raised on a field during an agricultural year. The total cropped area as a percentage of the net sown area gives a measure of cropping intensity.

(ii) Explain why there is a variation of cropping intensity in Punjab and Rajasthan.

ANSWER: Punjab is a densely populated state with good irrigation facilities, fertile soil and moderate rainfall. So the cropping intensity is high. Rajasthan receives very low rainfall, has not so fertile soil and irrigation facilities are absent. So the cropping intensity is low.

(b) (i) Name the largest cotton producing state in India. [2]

(i) Gujarat.

 

(ii) What are the geographical conditions required for the growth of cotton?

ANSWER: (ii) Temperature : 20°C to 30°C.

Rainfall : 50 cm to 100 cm.

1. 200 frost free days in a year for its successful cultivation.

2. Black soil and alluvial soil.

3. A lot of human labor.

(c) What are the three advantages that Japan has over India with respect to marine fishing ? [2]

ANSWER: Marine Fishing in Japan

1. The meeting of warm Kuroshio and cold Oyashio current provides plankton, which is ideal for fish.

2. Big corporations with modernized ships and equipment, help the people to go in the open ocean.

3. There are many gulfs, bays, estuaries with a large number of ports providing a larger coast line helping in better opportunities in marine fishing in Japan.

Marine Fishing in India

1. There is no cold and warm ocean current confluence along the Indian coast. So plankton is not available.

2. Most of the fishermen use non-mechanised boats. They normally do not go beyond 10 km.

3. The Indian coasts do not have many gulfs, bays, estuaries and backwaters and also not many ports leading to a lesser coast-line and thereby reducing the opportunities in marine fishing in India.

(d) Name the largest producing state for each of the following minerals and also give one use of each of these minerals : [2]

(i) Manganese

(ii) Mica

ANSWER: (i) Manganese : Largest producer Maharashtra.

Use : Used in making iron and steel, acts as a basic raw material for manufacturing its alloy.

(ii) Mica : Largest producer-Andhra Pradesh.

Use : Used in the electrical and electronic industry because it can withstand high voltage and low power loss factor.